Rafter cut marking guide



Dec. 27, 1960 RAFTER CUT MARKING GUIDE J. P. HALEY Filed Dec. 13, 1955 T5. a.E.

I/VI/EA/TOR JOSEPH P 65415) By 4 I United States Patent Oil-"ice 2,965,969 Patented Dec. 27, 1960 RAFTER CUT MARKING GUIDE Joseph P. Haley, Rodeo, Calif. (2380 Barry St., Napa, Calif.)

Filed Dec. 13, 1955, Ser. No. 552,822

3 Claims. (Cl. 33-90) This invention generally relates to templates, and is more particularly directed towards a template for marking cut lines for roof rafter constructions.

In roof construction, there are a number of different cuts which have to be made on the respective rafters. Heretofore, due to the variation in these cuts it has been extremely difiicult for the average workman to properly compute and mark the lines for the cuts, and consequently a great deal of time, and in many instances, a loss of lumber resulted from improper sawing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive template which may be conveniently utilized by an artisan for indicating the cut lines for different types of rafters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a template of the character described in which the lines indicating the ridge cut, the heel cut, and the tail cut of a common rafter may be rapidly and conveniently marked off of the lumber, the lumber then out along the lines indicated, all prior to the positioning of the rafter on the roof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a template of the character described which is equally applicable in marking the compound cut angle required for valley rafters or the like.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the template of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the template positioned on a length of lumber for marking the ridge out line of a common rafter.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, and on the same piece of lumber preparatory to marking the heel cut lines.

Figure 4 is another view similar to Figure 3 and illustrating the position of the template in marking the heel cut lines.

Figure 5 is a similar view and showing the position of the template for marking the tail cut line.

Figure 6 is a view of the cut rafter.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the template in connection with the marking of the valley rafter cut.

Figure 8 is a side view showing a second marking.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the cut rafter.

Before describing in detail how and in what manner the template is used in making the various cuts for the particular desired purpose, it is believed advisable to first set forth in detail the construction of the template itself. Accordingly, reference is made to Figure 1 of the drawing wherein it will be noted that the template includes a generally planar base portion 12 having longitudinally extending edges 13 and 14 which are disposed in parallel spaced relationship, an end edge 16 positioned at right angles to the edges 13 and 14 and a final end edge portion 17. The latter edge, defines with edge 13 an included angle of degrees, but as will be hereinafter explained in more detail, this particular angular configuration might vary in accordance with the particular pitch of the roof. However, in many roof designs the 30 degree-60 degree figures are utilized in the finished construction. Therefore, merely for purpose of illustration, this angle, designated by the numeral A in the drawing will be considered as being equal to 60 degrees.

A flange 18 depends at right angles from the general plane of base 12 along the edge 13 of the template and preferably is formed as an integral part thereof. The template may be constructed of metal, but desirably it is formed of a clear plastic material which possesses suflicient strength for the marking and yet is transparent so as to permit more ready visibility of any marks on the lumber.

- Extending inwardly from edge 13 is a triangular cut out portion 21, havingone edge surface 22 parallel to end edge 17 and the other edge 23 formed at an angle of 30 degrees to the edge 13 whereby the portions 22 and 23 intersect each other at a right angle. The length of line 23 is preferably 3 /8 inches and that of line 22 is 1% inches. These dimensions, once again, are given as illustrative and these dimensions would be utilized where the vertical support for the heel cut was a 2 x 4 piece of lumber, the latter having finished dimension of 1 /8 by 3% inches. 1

To conclude the description of the template. per se, there is also provided a slot 26 extending at an included angle of 45 degrees from edge 13 and the function of this slot as well as the triangular notch 21 and tapered edge 17 will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

The foregoing description of the template will readily indicate its simplicity of construction, and now the use of the template in providing a guide for the necessary saw cuts will be made. Referring first to Figure 2 of the drawing, the template, is shown on a piece of lumber 32 which is to provide a common rafter for the roof. As illustrated, the rafter is 2 inches by 6 inches, and therefore the length of edge 16 of the template should approximate 5% inches, i.e., the width of a 2 inch by 6 inch piece of lumber when finished. First, the template is positioned with the base 12 thereof overlying one flat surface of the lumber with the flange 18 overlying the longitudinally extending edge thereof. Then a line may be drawn along template edge 17, which line is shown in dotted line in Figure 3 and designated by the numeral 33. The cut, subsequently made along line 33 will be the ridge cut line or the place at which abutting rafters come together. Next, the length of the rafter is computed in the conventional manner as illustrated by the initials ROR (run of rafter) from the tables used by builders. The corner 34 of the template is positioned at this desired length and once again a line is drawn along template edge 17, this line being likewise shown dotted and designated by the numeral 36 in Figure 4 of the drawing. Then, the template is inverted so that the flange 18 overlies the other longitudinally extending edge of the lumber with the side 22 of the triangular recess 21 positioned along the line 36, and lines 37 and 38 are then marked on the lumber by following the edges 23 and 22 of the recessed portion. Then, as illustrated in Figure 5 the template is moved outwardly from the last marked lines to provide the desired overhang and a further line 39 marked for the tail cut. At this time the markings have all been made on the piece of lumber and as shown in Figure 6, the original piece of lumber as outlined with the dotted lines has been cut to provide the ridge cut line 41, the heel cut lines 42 3 and 43 and the tail cut line 44. The rafter may then be nailed or otherwise secured in position and with the ridge cut line adjacent a common rafter extending from the opposite end of the roof, and the heel cut lines 42 and 43 in position to receive a vertical supporting 2 x 4 or the like.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that it is an extremely simple and rapid task to provide the necessary four cuts required for a common rafter.

The template is equally Well applicable for providing the valley rafter cut in which the general plane of the cut is not normal to any surface of the lumber. Notwithstanding this compound angular type of cut, the template is equally efficient in providing guide lines for producing the cuts. First, the template is positioned on the lumber 51 in the same manner as that shown in Figure 2 for providing a ridge cut line 33. In this case, a line 52 is drawn along the edge 17 of the template and at the juncture of the edge 17 and flange 18 a point 53 is marked on the lumber. Then, as shown in Figure 8, the template is repositioned on the lumber so that the flange 18 lies on the surface 54 of the lumber and the base 12 of the template is positioned against one of the longitudinally extending edges 56 of the lumber. Then, the end of slot 26 adjacent the flange 18 is positioned to overlie the marked point 53 and a line 57 is scribed along the slot. Then, after removing the template the compound cut is provided by cutting along the marked lines 57 and 52 to provide the necessary rafter from the piece of squared lumber originally furnished.

With the foregoing explanation no further detailed description is believed necessary as to how the same template may be utilized for ridge rafters and other special cuts, as such markings will merely constitute minor variations from the markings for the common rafters and valley rafters as just described.

What is claimed is:

1. A rafter cut marking guide comprising a planar base portion having a first longitudinally extending edge and an integral flange disposed normally to said base portion extending along said edge, said base portion having a second edge defining with said longitudinally extending edge a predetermined included angle of less than 90 degrees, said base portion having a triangular cut out portion having one side formed by said first edge and a second side thereof disposed in parallel spaced relationship to said second edge and a third side thereof disposed at an angle of 90 degrees to said second side, said base portion having a slot spaced from said triangular cut out portion and defining with said first longitudinally extending edge an included angle of approximately degrees, said slot extending from said first edge toward said second edge.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the included angles of said triangular cut out are 60 degrees, degrees and 30 degrees respectively, and in which said second edge and said first edge define an included angle of 60 degrees, and in which said third side and said second side of said triangular cut out have a predetermined length corresponding to the size of finished lumber.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which another edge of said base portion defines an angle of 90 degrees with said first edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 387,966 Beckwith Aug. 14, 1888 1,059,513 Zumwalt Apr. 22, 1913 1,125,010 Doner Jan. 12, 1915 1,255,429 Killion Feb. 5, 1918 1,838,607 Zerbel Dec. 29, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 526,455 Great Britain Sept. 18, 1940 322,477 Germany June 30, 1920 

